City Parks Need More Tree Cover and Understory Plantings

City parks are essential parts of urban life that provide places for people to relax, exercise, and socialize. But many city parks do not have enough tree cover, which can have negative impacts on both the environment and park visitors. This article will explore some of the reasons why Ottawa’s city parks need more tree cover and understory plantings.

The Benefits of Trees in City Parks

Trees play a critical role in urban ecosystems by improving water and air quality, limiting the impacts of stormwater runoff, reducing heat island effects, and providing habitat for wildlife. In city parks in particular, trees provide shade that is especially important during hot summer months and create a more peaceful environment by reducing noise pollution. Trees can also have a positive impact on people's mental and physical health by reducing stress and promoting physical activity.

Problems from Lacking Tree Cover

But many city parks do not have enough tree cover despite the many benefits provided by trees, often because of limited funding for park maintenance and upgrades. Without enough trees, city parks can become hot, barren spaces that are less enjoyable for visitors

There are also negative environmental impacts from having too few trees if there is not enough shade to cool the air and reduce urban heat island effects. In turn, these impacts can lead to higher temperatures and therefore increase levels of air pollution through high energy demand for cooling. And without trees to absorb stormwater there is also a greater risk of flooding and water pollution.

The Importance of Understory Plantings

Though planting more trees is an obvious way to increase tree cover in city parks, limited space and funding can make it infeasible to do so. In these circumstances, city planners and community members can instead focus on understory plantings.

Understory plantings grow beneath the canopy of trees and include plants such as flowering raspberries, columbine, anemone, and ferns play a huge role in ecosystem building. These plants can provide a wide range of benefits, like improving soil health and water retention, reducing erosion, and providing habitat for wildlife. Understory plantings can also help to create a more diverse and visually appealing park environment.

Examples of Successful Understory Plantings

There are many examples of successful understory plantings in city parks. For example, in New York City, the Parks Department has implemented a program called "Greenstreets" that focuses on planting trees and understory plants in medians and other small, low-traffic areas. As a result of the program there has been an increase in the tree cover and overall health of the city’s urban ecosystem.The

In Seattle, the city's Parks Department has implemented a program called "Green Seattle Partnership," which focuses on restoring forests in city parks. The program includes planting understory vegetation to improve soil health and provide habitat for wildlife. The program has been successful in restoring degraded park areas and creating a more diverse and healthy park environment.

Jeff Collins, owner of REWILD Landscapes, is a horticulturist and landscape designer focused on restoring habitats and ensuring food security. With a lifetime of experience, Jeff uses his knowledge and skills to create spaces for people and the ecosystem surrounding them. Jeff's designs include native plants and non-invasive, edible species. He believes that it shouldn't just be the local wildlife and pollinators enjoying the landscape but the homeowner and community as well.